5 Voting Myths to Watch Out for Before You Head to the Polls

(SPOT.ph) So you’ve got your ballot, your pen, and your choices (more or less) locked in. You're ready to vote on May 12—but wait, tita says you must shade all 12 senatorial slots or your vote doesn’t count. Your friend swears that one wrong stroke will disqualify your ballot.

The thing is, not everything you hear at the dinner table, on group chats, or from the kapitbahay is true. The best way to cut through the noise is to ask the Commission on Elections (COMELEC)—so we did just that for everyone’s peace of mind.

Also read: Check Your Voter Status + More at COMELEC's Precinct Finder

5 things to know before you vote in the 2025 midterm elections

Myth #1: You have to vote for all 12 senators or your vote won’t count.

This one comes up every election cycle. The truth is, you can vote for 12, 6, 3—or even just one senator if that’s all you trust. Only the names you mark will be counted. Just don’t go over 12 or the entire senatorial section of your ballot gets voided.

And no, leaving a few slots blank doesn’t mean someone else will fill them in. You’re the one who feeds your ballot into the vote-counting machine (VCM), which issues a receipt showing exactly who you voted for.

Myth #2: One stray mark will invalidate your whole ballot.

Relax. COMELEC’s vote-counting machines are designed to read only the shaded ovals, so very minor marks outside them are typically ignored. Just don’t take this as permission to scribble or doodle on the ballot as this can invalidate your vote. Section 36 (e) of COMELEC Resolution No. 11076 strictly prohibits placing any distinguishing marks on the ballot, so anything beyond the proper shading of the oval is not allowed.

Your ballot can handle a bit of imperfect shading, too. COMELEC’s VCMs are programmed to read marks as long as the oval is shaded at least 15%. 

Myth #3: You can’t bring a list of candidates to the polling place.

Not only can you bring a list, you’re encouraged to. A cheat sheet is supposed to speed things up. Just don’t flash it around or use it to convince other voters as this is considered campaigning, which is a big no-no during election day.

Myth #4: You need to bring a valid ID to vote.

Bringing an ID is helpful but not required. If your name appears on the Election Day Computerized Voters’ List (EDCVL) in your precinct, you can vote with or without an ID.

That said, it’s still smart to bring one, just in case your identity is questioned. COMELEC also accepts various IDs—even expired ones—as long as they match the voter’s record.

“Voters will only be asked to present a valid ID in case their identity cannot be verified through the Election Day Computerized Voters' List (EDCVL),” COMELEC said.

Myth #5: You can request another ballot when you mess up.

You only get one ballot. If you make a mistake—like shading the wrong name—you cannot request a replacement, even if you haven’t fed it into the machine. COMELEC is strict on one ballot per voter. Be very careful when shading.

That said, it’s best to check out the ballot face template so you know exactly where to shade in come election day on May 12.

Also read:May 12 Is a Special Non-Working Holiday for the 2025 Elections